AKRON

Ohio court suspends
license of attorney

AKRON: In a split decision, the Ohio Supreme Court on Thursday suspended the license of Akron attorney Jeffrey Catanzarite for one year, with the final six months stayed.

The court, in the 5-2 decision, said Catanzarite charged two prospective clients an excessive fee, sued those clients for an amount he knew he had not earned and tried to intimidate the lawyer representing the Akron Bar Association during disciplinary proceedings against him.

The court stayed six months of the suspension on the condition that Catanzarite complete a probationary period under the supervision of an attorney appointed by the Akron Bar Association.

Chief Justice Thomas Moyer wrote the majority decision. He was joined by Justices Paul Pfeifer, Maureen O'Connor, Judith Ann Lanzinger and Robert Cupp.

Justices Terrence O'Donnell and Evelyn Lundberg Stratton dissented.

O'Donnell said he thought the dispute between Catanzarite and the prospective clients resulted from a miscommunication over fees. He noted that Catanzarite had practiced for 28 years with no disciplinary problems, and he should have been given a one-year suspension, with the term stayed and the same conditions outlined by Moyer.

Beautification plans
for roads on agenda
AKRON: Portions of Akron's expressway system will get spruced up, continuing earlier roadside beautification efforts, under a plan to be discussed at a news conference at 9:30 a.m. today.

Mayor Don Plusquellic and Eric Czetli, deputy director of Ohio Department of Transportation's District 4, will discuss the effort at City Hall.

The mayor's spokesman, Mark Williamson, declined to give details Thursday afternoon, but said the project — primarily funded with state money — is an expansion of earlier efforts.

In 1997, the city launched a five-year Expressway Landscaping Plan.

Plusquellic said at the time that the plantings were expected to lower the cost and time spent on maintenance. Steep slopes that required hand mowing were planted with shrubs or ground cover that would not require mainte-nance.

Police seize drugs, arrest 14 in sweep
AKRON: Sheriff's deputies and Akron police seized drugs and arrested 14 in a sweep of two Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority neighborhoods Wednesday, according to Summit County Sheriff Drew Alexander.

The sweep at Mohawk Apartments and the Wilbeth-Arlington Homes yielded one arrest for possession of crack cocaine, two for marijuana and 11 on outstanding warrants.

Officers seized drugs and drug paraphernalia and issued several traffic violations.

City sewage plant
wins national award
AKRON: The city's sewage treatment plant has won an award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.

Akron won a silver Peak Performance Award for outstanding compliance in 2007 with the plant's federal pollution limits. Akron had one violation that year.

The city was among five Ohio communities cited by the national group.

The award was Akron's ninth consecutive honor from the wastewater group.

Akron Zoo reports attendance increase
AKRON: The Akron Zoo is on track to set an attendance record for the fifth year in a row.

Zoo officials credit the zoo's new exhibit, Jellies: Rhythm in the Blue, with bringing in close to 125,000 visitors in June and July, an 18 percent increase over the same period last year.

The zoo's total attendance for 2007 was 262,217.

The jellyfish exhibit, which opened June 7, is the first saltwater attraction in the zoo's history. It features seven different species of jellyfish in 10 different aquariums. The exhibit includes a tank with sea urchins, crabs and starfish that visitors can touch.

Zoo hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is $9 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5.50 for children (ages 2-14). Children under 2 are free. Parking is $2.

The zoo is home to more than 700 animals and is open 361 days a year.

The Akron Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Workshop to discuss
recovering from loss
AKRON: The Greater Akron-Canton Chapter of the Association of Black Social Workers will host a workshop on recovering from significant losses in life at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The two-hour program will be held at the Vernon Odom Boulevard Library, 600 Vernon Odom Blvd.

Discussions will include how grief affects our daily interactions and relationships and suggestions for healing body, mind and spirit.

For additional information about the program, call Sondra Bryant at 330-322-8815.
GREEN

City staffers to help
with sewer problem
GREEN: City Council on Tuesday instructed city administrators to help guide a South Main Street woman through a costly, frustrating water problem.

Mechtild ''Mecky'' Gross asked council for help with Summit County in rectifying a sanitary sewer project and hookup that has cost her nearly $30,000. The resident complained that in spite of the expense, water continues to pour into her basement.

''I've lived in this house for 20 years and never had water in the basement,'' said Gross, who lives on Miller Lake. ''My basement was dry before the construction, but it's not now.''

The resident said she has tried to get help from the county to determine what needs to be done to get her sewer working correctly.
— George W. Davis
NORTHEAST OHIO

Tom Batiuk to speak
at KSU graduation

KENT: Tom Batiuk, creator of the Funky Winkerbean comic strip and a 1969 graduate of Kent State, will be the university's guest speaker at summer commencement on Saturday.

More than 1,300 students will graduate at the 10 a.m. ceremony at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.

The University of Akron will also graduate 1,000 students at ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at the E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. UA President Luis Proenza will be the guest speaker.
STARK COUNTY

Volunteers needed
for emergencies
CANTON: Medical and nonmedical volunteers are being sought to work with the emergency response teams.

The teams serve during a community crisis or emergency within Stark County.

For additional information, call 330-493-9904, Ext. 284, or go to http://www.starkhealth.org. Poker run, cruise-in
to benefit charity
JACKSON TOWNSHIP: A poker run and cruise-in to benefit the Domestic Violence Project Inc. will be held Sunday.

The event will be held at the North Canton Eagles, 6979 Sunset Strip Ave. N.W., Jackson Township, with the first group of riders leaving at 10 a.m. and the last one departing at noon.

Tickets are $15 each.

Two bands, Back Alley-Gatorz and Jeff Poulos Blues Review, will perform.

The Domestic Violence Project, which serves domestic violence victims in Stark County, is looking for people to participate in the event or donate a door prize or raffle item. Those interested may call 330-445-2000, Ext. 248. Registration forms are available at http://www.dvpi.org.

STOW

7-year-old to hold yard-sale benefit
STOW: Seven-year-old Kristen Rockwood is having a yard sale to benefit United Way of Summit County.

The sale will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 1731 Ritchie Road. All proceeds will go to help meet United Way's nearly $11.7 million goal.

The nonprofit organization is marking 90 years of assisting Summit County residents.

This year's national theme for United Way is ''Live United,'' which challenges people to give, advocate and volunteer.
TALLMADGE SCHOOLS

Board revises rules for student conduct
TALLMADGE: The school board has adopted a revised High School Handbook and Athletic Code of Conduct.

Student athletes are now covered by an anti-hazing and harassment policy 365 days a year, not just during a particular athletic season.

The handbook also defines bullying, hazing and harassment, and disciplinary actions to be taken if such activity occurs.

Last year several members of the high school football team were convicted for the assault of a fellow player in a hazing incident after a practice.
— M.A. Ferguson-Rich